- 19130
- 05-09-2018
- Author: Mysekret Team
- 0
Of all the church rites, repentance and communion are among the most important in the life of every Christian who considers himself to be of the Orthodox faith. But great responsibility requires careful, scrupulous preparation, the most important components of which are prayers before confession and communion.
What words to start confession with, how does confession go?
Confession is a bath that washes the soul from sinful filth. It is not enough to simply admit your sin. You need to go to church and repent before God in confession.
If some do not understand why it is necessary to go to the temple, then one more example should be given. The church is like a hospital for the soul. But if we are sick in the body, then we visit the hospital? So it is with the soul, it is necessary to heal it in the church.
During confession, you come to church and listen to the words of the holy father, “Behold, child, Christ stands invisibly, accepting your confession...”. This is how the confession itself begins. Next, you bow your head over the lectern, the holy father covers you with stole, and you can already express what is in your soul. At this time, the index and middle fingers must be placed on the Gospel or cross.
Confession in the temple
After your words, the priest may ask you some questions and also clarify whether you repent of this sin. After you have repented, the rector of the temple reads a prayer of permission. Next you need to kiss the cross and the Gospel.
There are no formalities or obligations in preparing for confession. You don't have to say any specific words. In order to confess, you do not need to select a specific day or church holiday.
Necessary during confession
All you need is the call of your soul and the desire to cleanse yourself. Preparing for confession is the moment when you have analyzed your life and actions and realized that you are doing something wrong.
After confession, you can take a blessing from the priest. To do this, place your right hand on top of your left and say: “Father, bless.”
The priest makes the sign of the cross and places his hand on your palms. You need to kiss your father's hand. If after confession you plan to take communion, then also ask for a blessing for this.
RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
How did you feel about your parents? Did you show them love and respect? Was he obedient to them? Did you treat them with confidence? Did you lie to them? Have you ever been insolent with them? Did you try to help them? Were you patient in your dealings with them? Did you make sure that your parents did not suffer from poverty and loneliness in their old age? Weren't you ashamed of them?
How did you treat other family members? Was it the cause of quarrels and clashes among your loved ones? Was he an example for the younger ones?
What is your attitude towards your spouse? Are you trying to understand her/him better? Do you care about her (his) health and spiritual life? Do you take proper care of your children? Are you trying to understand them and earn their trust? Are you fair to them? Was he too strict and irritable? Didn't he indulge their whims? Did you contribute to the education of true Christian virtues and high civic qualities in your children? Have you taught your children something bad? Have you set a bad example for your children with your actions? Did adult children interfere in family affairs? Did you strive to ensure that your home became a genuine Christian hearth?
Have you tried to live in peace with your neighbors? If you have servants or subordinates, have you treated them with sufficient respect and Christian love?
Did you feel responsible for those with whom you constantly come into contact at work, at school, etc.? Did you help them if necessary?
Was there an encroachment on human life on your part, including the life of a fetus in the womb? (Not only the woman who terminates the pregnancy is guilty of committing an abortion, but also those who push her to do so; responsibility for murder also lies with the doctors who perform this operation). Have you caused any bodily harm to anyone? If you had to defend your own or someone else's life, or safety, or property, did you not exceed the necessary violence and tried, if possible, to avoid murder? Did you endanger the life of your neighbor? If you own high-risk equipment (weapons, cars, etc.), did you use them carefully enough? Have you shown any cruelty? Wasn't he heartless towards people?
Did you experience hatred or antipathy towards anyone, and if so, did you try to overcome them? Have you quarreled with anyone? Have you been angry with your neighbor? Have you offended anyone with your word or deed?
Have you condemned your neighbor in words or thoughts? Has anyone been harmed as a result of your condemnation? When you rightly criticize someone's actions, do you not become embittered in your heart against that person?
Didn't you cheat? Have you slandered anyone? Didn't he bear false witness?
Have you envied the success of another? Did you disclose other people's sins and shortcomings? Don't you have the habit of laughing at your neighbor? Weren't you gloating? Have you taken other people's feelings lightly? Have you neglected anyone because of their background, weakness or shortcomings?
Have you helped others in need? Have you been insensitive to people in trouble and suffering, as well as to those who need your spiritual support?
Have you caused material damage to your neighbor? If so, did you reimburse it? Do you respect the public domain?
Have you been faithful? Have you led anyone into temptation or inclined anyone to commit any sin? Did it contribute to the spread of something that is used for evil (weapons; drugs; literature and video products promoting debauchery and violence, etc.)?
Have you ever missed an opportunity to benefit other people, to help them in difficulties? Didn't your laziness or inertia hinder you in this? Did you conscientiously perform your professional or student responsibilities? Did you treat them lightly? Did you conscientiously complete the tasks assigned to you? In the performance of civil and official duties, were you guided not only by the letter of the law, but also by your conscience?
Have you been respectful of other people's views and beliefs? Did you offend the feelings and dignity of those with whom you argued?
How to prepare for confession for the first time?
Confession is perceived as reconciliation with the Lord. There is a priest present as a witness, to whom you reveal your sins. And he, in turn, prays for the forgiveness of your sins.
Before confession, you should remember several important rules:
- Realize your sins and sincerely repent. If you decide to come to confession, then you understand that you are doing something wrong in your life. Therefore, you should reconsider all the points that do not suit you and that you regret. Sincerely ask God for forgiveness for all sins and ask to cleanse your soul and mind from filth.
- Don't write huge lists . In this case, it’s as if you are simply reading the list without opening your soul. You can jot down briefly what you want to confess so you don’t forget. But you shouldn’t write the entire confession on paper.
- Confess only your sins . There is no need to say that you did something sinful in response to the sinful deed of a neighbor, relative or colleague. These are their sins for which you should not speak. Cleanse your soul and thoughts first.
- Don't come up with any fancy words or phrases for your speech . God accepts and loves us no matter what. And he certainly knows about your sins. Don't be shy about the priest either. Over the years of service, he has listened to a lot, so I certainly won’t be surprised by your words.
- If you have not gone to church for many years, then you should first confess this sin and talk about serious sinful deeds and thoughts. Wearing short clothes or watching TV during Lent can be said at the end. Because if there are more serious sins, it’s not so important to mention TV and clothes.
- Try to change your life before confession. You should not think that confession is an event after which you can continue to commit sinful acts. Change your life for the better. Let it be gradual and slow, but surely.
- Forgive and you will be forgiven. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness, then be ready to forgive the people with whom you are offended.
Don't forget to pray
Now we offer practical recommendations before confession:
- Find out about the time of confession in the temple. If you come for the first time, then it is better not to choose days of major holidays. On such days there are usually a lot of people who want to confess. It’s better to choose a quieter day to have the opportunity for a full, leisurely confession.
- Before confession, it is advisable to read prayers of repentance . They can be found in prayer books.
- It is advisable to confess at least once a month. Then you will feel in good physical and mental tone.
Test of conscience
Before starting confession, you need to try to remember all your actions since the last confession and carefully understand not only your behavior, but also all the states of your soul. We must clearly realize all the situations when love for oneself turned out to be stronger than love for God and neighbor.
If during this time any serious sins were committed (or if they were previously forgotten or hidden during confession, and also if their mention in confession was not accompanied by genuine awareness and repentance), they should be repented of first of all. The silence of even one grave sin deprives the entire confession of meaning.
What sins are considered grave? First of all, direct betrayal of God: apostasy, blasphemy against God, turning to dark forces, activities directed against the Church and its teachings. Grave sins also include a conscious attack on human life, which is the greatest gift of God; Attempts to terminate one’s own life, as well as the life of the fetus in the womb, are no exception (thus, not only any type of abortion is equivalent to murder, but also the use of those contraceptives that destroy an already conceived embryo). Conscious violations of the freedom, safety, health and property of others are also considered grave sins. In addition, adultery is a grave sin. To all this should be added the encouragement of others to similar actions or voluntary complicity in them; Among grave sins is any seduction of other people, especially children, to evil (cf. Mt 18.6-7). Of course, this is far from an exhaustive list of what can be classified as grave sins: the severity of a particular sin is determined by the conscience of the repentant, so it is necessary to listen to it especially carefully when preparing for the sacrament of repentance. However, if something is difficult to figure out on your own, you should consult about it in confession with a priest.
In addition to deep repentance for each sin, the result of the test of conscience should also be the penitent’s awareness of what sins and what bad inclinations he is now most susceptible to. Accordingly, you should think about how to more successfully combat them in the future. The advice of a priest during confession can also be useful in this regard.
The following questions may help in examining your conscience:
When was the last time you went to confession? Was it accompanied by sincere repentance? Have you forgotten any grave sin? Have you hidden anything out of false shame? Did you fulfill the penance imposed by the priest? Did you follow his advice? Have you made the decision to fight your main vice? If so, did you implement the decision? Have you lost heart in the fight against your sinful inclinations?
What prayers should I read before confession and communion?
Before confession and communion, one should not only fast, but also prepare with prayer. The prayer before confession is the prayer of Simeon the Theologian. The prayer book also contains prayers of repentance, which are also recommended for reading.
Before communion:
- Fast 3 days before Holy Communion. Avoid meat and dairy products.
- Before the day of communion, visit the temple during the evening service.
- Read the rules before Holy Communion.
- From midnight until communion, do not eat or drink water.
- Come at the beginning of the liturgy, and not at the time of confession. It is important to be in church during the entire service.
Communion is necessary for both children and adults
To begin Holy Communion in the evening, you must read the canons:
- Repentant to Jesus Christ
- Prayer service to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Guardian Angel
Also find troparia and songs for Holy Communion in the prayer book and read them.
How many days should one fast before Confession?
There is no need to fast immediately before Confession. That is, if a person has committed some sin, he is tormented by his conscience and there is a desire to confess as soon as possible - there is no need to wait several days, you can attend a morning or evening service in the nearest church at the most convenient time. However, if an Orthodox Christian intends to begin Holy Communion after Confession, he must prepare for and observe the Eucharistic fast, the length of which can vary in accordance with his physical and spiritual state.
Confession - sins: listing for women and men
Sins have existed since the time of Adam and Eve. They are so varied that perhaps some do not even know that they are sinning. We offer you a list of sins that men and women can expose themselves to:
- Violated the rules of behavior in the temple.
- He complained about his life and those around him.
- Didn't perform prayers diligently.
- She did not abstain from carnal pleasures during pregnancy, as well as on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. I was with my husband during the days of fasting.
- Didn’t repent of sin right away.
- Commemorated the deceased with alcohol.
- He condemned and doubted his neighbors.
- Had (a) sinful dreams.
- Sinful (of) gluttony.
- He praised people, not the Lord.
- I was too lazy to go to church on Sundays.
- He deceived, he was a hypocrite, he was cowardly.
- He believed in omens and was superstitious.
- Concealed sins during confession.
- Wore clothes that were not modest, looked at other people's nakedness.
Reading prayers is necessary daily
- I was ashamed to be baptized, and took off my cross when meeting people.
- I did not pray before eating food, I went to bed without prayer.
- He condemned the priests.
- Advised or had an abortion.
- Spent money on entertainment and events.
- Spoiled the water while swimming in the river from which they take drinking water.
- Visited fortune tellers.
- Sold and produced alcoholic beverages.
- Being unclean, I went to the temple.
- Telling sinful stories from the lives of close friends or relatives.
- He sinned (a) fornication and masturbation.
- Took contraceptives, contraceptives.
- Visited wicked places.
- Had intimacy with a person of the same sex.
- I was doing exercises in the morning and not reading prayers.
- On Sundays I went not to church, but to the forest or to the river.
- He was jealous of his wife (husband). I tried to kill my opponent with the help of healers.
- I dreamed about traveling.
- I bought lottery tickets, hoping to get rich.
- During breastfeeding, she had a relationship with her husband.
- Instead of prayer, I read magazines and watched TV.
- She prayed with her head uncovered (for men - in a headdress).
- Permitted (a) sinful relationship without being married.
- Had the sin of sodomy (connection with animals, with a blood relative).
This is just a short list of sins. There are 472 of them listed on the pages of spiritual books. Some of them are repeated or indicated with additional clarifications.
Examples of Confession before Communion
When approaching Confession for the first time or after a long break, it is advisable to read the instructions of the Holy Fathers to the penitent and become familiar with examples of Confessions. They can be easily found on the Internet and in spiritual literature. Ready-made templates help you analyze your own sins more thoroughly and make your work on yourself as effective as possible (one of the meanings of Repentance is to awaken in a person the determination to become a better person).
Teenage and childhood sins in confession: list
A child confesses from the age of seven. Until this time, communion without confession is allowed. For children and adolescents, during confession the following sins are expected to be indicated (if any, of course):
- I forgot about reading prayers in the morning and evening, as well as before and after meals.
- I did not prepare for confession.
- Rarely visited the temple.
- I didn’t know the basic prayers: Our Father, Creed, Virgin Mary, Rejoice.
- Didn't listen to parents and teachers.
- Raised his voice at elders.
- He fought and called children names.
- Didn't study lessons.
- Played gambling.
- Didn't go to confession after reaching 7 years old.
- Had fun on fast days.
- Applied tattoos to the body.
- He did not accustom his younger relatives to the word of God.
- Was not respectful towards his godmother or godfather.
- Stole or took without asking.
- Not being able to do it, I tried to draw icons.
- He did not live according to Divine laws.
- Smoked (a).
Teach your child to church
RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOURSELF
Have you struggled with pride? Was he acting arrogant? Was he trying to prove his superiority? Did you willingly admit your guilt? Did you accept criticism without irritation? Did you resort to lies to hide your mistakes? Have you kept your heart from anger and irritability?
Are you attached to material wealth? Are you satisfied with your position? Do you envy the financial situation and success of others? Was he stingy or, on the contrary, wasteful?
Have you tried to keep your heart pure? Have you become a slave to your carnal lusts? Have you tried to overcome your sinful inclinations by turning to God’s help?
Did you eat in moderation? Have you indulged in the vice of drunkenness? Did you use drugs? Did you observe moderation in pleasures and fun? Were you overly frivolous in your approach to life? Did you take your words responsibly? Did you allow yourself idle talk or foul language?
Did you try to use your time fruitfully? Have you tried to know God's will for you? Did you strive to develop the abilities given to you by God for activities for His glory and for the good of your neighbor?
How to talk about handjob in confession?
All people are sinners, everyone has their own. Masturbation is also a sin. And it is necessary to repent of it. But very often a situation occurs that people who spoke about such a sin in confession continued to do so.
You should understand for yourself that you should get rid of the sin of masturbation. After the first confession about this sin, try not to succumb to temptation anymore. If willpower is not yet strong enough, then it is necessary to go to church for confession after each handjob.
Ask God to give you the strength to get rid of sin. Repent and talk to the priest. Don’t be embarrassed, the temple minister will listen and support you and give advice.
All sins must be confessed
Confession is a means of cleansing the soul and an impetus to a new, correct life. If you feel spiritual heaviness or sorrow does not leave you, visit the temple. There you will find help and support for your soul. and at the same time you will find peace and good spirits.
Sacrament of the Eucharist
Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, on the eve of His death on the cross. This Sacrament is celebrated at every Holy Mass, which is a bloodless Sacrifice in remembrance of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice on the cross.
When a priest, with the authority given to him by Christ, pronounces on behalf of Christ Himself the words: “This is My Body”
,
“This is My Blood
,” - transubstantiation occurs: the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
During the Holy Mass, believers receive communion (that is, they partake of the Lord, tasting His Body and Blood): they become communions of Christ Himself, who heals and sanctifies their souls.
In every particle of the Holy Gifts (transubstantiated Bread and Wine) dwells the risen Savior in all the fullness of His Divinity and Humanity.
Christians are called to receive Communion as often as possible; You can even receive communion every day. However, it is necessary to prepare for the Holy Sacrament, in which the believer meets the Lord. The basic preparation is a virtuous life.
You cannot receive communion if you have grave sins on your conscience. In addition, prayerful preparation for the Sacrament is also needed, first of all, meaningful, active and reverent participation in the Holy Mass. However, deep prayer before Mass can bring significant spiritual benefits.
After Communion, it is also necessary to spend some time in prayer, giving thanks to God for His priceless Gift and reverence for the incomprehensible Mystery of the Eucharist.
The prayers recommended by the Church for preparing for the reception of the Holy Mysteries and thanksgiving after Communion can be read by believers in whole or in part, and can also be used as models for their own prayers and reflections.
Prayer in Church Slavonic
I confess to You, Lord my God and Creator, in the One Holy Trinity, glorified and worshiped, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, all my sins, which I have committed all the days of my life, and for every hour, and now, and in past days and nights, deed, word, thought, gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, bickering, disobedience, slander, condemnation, negligence, self-love, avarice, theft, unspeaking, foul gain, money-gathering, jealousy, envy, anger , memory of malice, hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and my other sins, both mental and physical, in the image of my God and Creator I have angered You, and my neighbor for being untruthful: regretting these, I blame myself for You I present it to my God, and I have the will to repent: then, Lord my God, help me, with tears I humbly pray to Thee: forgive me my sins by Thy mercy, and forgive me from all these things that I have said before Thee, as I am Good and Lover of mankind.